Method of making seamless containers



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,278

A. SIMONS METHOD OF MAKING SEAMLESS CONTAINERS Filed May 18, 1928 INVENTOR B M ATTORNEY,

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,702,278 PATENT OFFICE.

W BIIONS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

mnon 03 um G SMILES CONTAINERS Application filed Kay 18,

My invention relates to a new and improved method of making seamless contamers, such as tubes or the like and a new and im roved seamless container.

(gne of the objects of my invention is to provide a new and im roved method of making seamless tubes 0 the kind used for making containers for toothpaste and various similar roducts.

Another 0 ject of my invention is to provide a new and improved extrusion process for producing such seamless containers which shall require the use of much smaller working pressures than have hitherto been deemed necessary.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved extrusion process for making seamless containers in which the metal is positively actuated inthe direction of the longitudinal axis of the container which is being formed.

Another ob ect of my invention is to provide a metallic seamless container of improved structure.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating how a disc of metal is held in proper position to be extruded.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the plunger used for extruding the metal.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation diagrammatically illustrating an intermediate stage in the operation of the method.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showin the last stage in the operation of the met-ho Heretofore in making seamless containers or tubes, it has been customary to extrude a disc of metal located within a die, by forcing a plunger against the said disc. This plunger was s aced from the annular wall of the die, so t at the metal was compressed and would flow longitudinally upon the plunger, thus making a seamless container. The method utilized for making a tube was substantially the same save that the die and plunger were designed so as to open the central part of the disc which was being extruded, or else an annular metal body was extruded, while the central opening in said an- 1988. Serial I0. 278,701.

nular body of metal was revented from closing. In order to be e ective these prior methods required the use of very high workmg pressures so that the plunger had to be actuated with a force as high as 150 tons per square inch. This rendered the extrusion operation uncertain because fine adjustments could not be maintained when the parts of the ress were subjected to such tremendous wor ing stresses. In such prior methods the pressure exerted by the plunger had to cause the metal disc to flow laterally and to also cause the flowing metal to flow parallel to the axis of the plunger. While it required a relatively low pressure to merely compress the disc of metal to cause it to flow laterally, it required very great pressure to cause the flowing metal to then move in a direction parallel to the axis of the plun er, especially if the container or tube had a t in wall. According to m invention the pressure of the plunger is on y utilized for causing the metal to flow laterally, and the laterally flowing metal is then positively actuated in a longitudinal direction, namely, in a direction parallel to the axis of the plunger.

The operation of the new method is illustrated in connection with the manufacture of a seamless tube having a closed end, although it is equally applicable for the manufacture of seamless tubes open at both ends thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, a disc 3 made of any suitable metal such as aluminum, zinc or the like, is held in position at the end of an abutment member 1 which may be secured to any suitable support. An extrusion tube 4 is slidably mounted u on the member 1. A plunger 2 is operate. by any suitable mechanism so as to compress the disc 3 and cause the metal thereof to flow laterally. The wall of the plunger 2 has a slight clearance with respect to the inner wall of the member 4, this clearance being sufficient to allow for the thickness of the extruded tube. The members 1 and 2 are preferabl held vertically with the member 2 above t e member 1, although this is not essential for the purposes of my invention.

The member 2 is forced against the disc 3 with suflicient pressure to cause the metal of the disc 3 to flow laterally. At the same time, the member 4 is slid upon the member 1 so that the laterally flowing metal is engaged by the inner wall of the member 4 and is positively moved longitudinally as illustrated in al has been extruded to form a container of the. desired length. Instead of keeping the member 1 stationary, it could also be moved in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the plunger 2. While this is being done, the member 1 could be caused to move a little more slowl than the member 2 so as to cause the metal isc 3 to be extruded. The pressure exerted upon the disc ,3 need only be suflicient to cause it to flow laterally, because the longitudinal movement of the metal is positively caused by the member 4.

Likewise, a superior and durable container is secured because the fibres of the metal at the ed e of the closed end thereof are curved to fol ow the contour of the tube, instead of being highly compressedat this point to form p a very sharp angle.

It will be noted that the laterally flowing metal of the disc 3 is positively actuated or assisted to flow in a longitudinal direction after it has spread out in a direction perpendicular to the line of pressure, in contradistinction to prior methods in which the longitudinal flow was caused by the pressure exerted on the disc in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal flow.

It is preferable to move the member 4 with considerable velocity in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the plunger 2 so that the said member 4 is moved in the same direction as the longitudinally flowing metal. It is preferable to move the member 4 with the same velocity as the longitudinall flowing metal, so that said longitudinally owing metal will not be retarded by any friction thereof with the inner wall of said member 4. Indeed it is advantageous to have the velocity of the member 4 exceed the velocity of the extruded metal so that the extruded metal will have its flowfacilitated. However, I do not wish to limit my invention to any parthe member 4 ma ticular velocity of the member 4, because even if the member 4 moves more slowly than the longitudinally fiowin metal, the longitudinal movement of sai flowing metal will be assisted, thus enabling a lower pressure to be utilized than if the member 4 were kept stationary. The plun er 2 and the inner wall of be lubricated to facilitate the longitudinal ow of the metal. Likewise, this lubrication enables the member 4 to be readily stripped from the formed article upon the third stroke of the apparatus. Upon this third stroke, the member 4 is removed from the container, leaving it upon the plunger 2 from which it can be afterwards removed.

It is to be understood that whenever I refer to a disc of metal, I include a. perforated disc as well as an imperforate disc and that I also include an slug or block of metal which can be extrude to make any shape or form of seamless container or tube.

The completed article may be cylindrical,

it may have an irregular cross section or it may have a cross section of any desired polygonal contour.

I claim:

1. A method of extruding a disc of metal which consists in pressing the same to cause the metal thereof to flow laterally and to then flow in a direction opposed to the line of pressure, on said disc; while positively assisting the flowing metal to flow in said opposed direction.

2. A method of extruding metal which consists in compressing a metal member to cause the metal thereof to flow laterally and to then flow in a direction opposed to the line of pressure, and simultaneously positively assisting the laterally flowing metal to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line of lateral flow, and opposed to said direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ABRAHAM SIMONS. 

